In rupee terms, man-made textiles export clocked a 3.9 per cent increase to rs 2,153.07 crore compared to rs 2072.3 crore achieved during the corresponding period last year.

However, exports of wool and woollen itmes dropped by 8.1 per cent in dollar terms and 3.5 per cent in rupee terms to 140.3 million and 596.44 crore respectively.

Shipments of silk recorded a slight increase of 2.4 per cent in dollar terms to 129.4 cent growth to rs 558.25 crore t impressive gains during the first half and rose to 908 million dollars as against 826 million dollars during the same period last year. Handicrafts, which include carpets and other floor covering was valued in rupee terms at 3933.55 crore, up 14 per cent from last year's level of rs 3445.28 crore.

India's coir products exports, however, declined during the first half by 6.6 per cent in dollar terms to just 31.4 million comapred to 33.6 million during the corresponding period last year.

The decline in domestic production of jute during the current year pulled down exports by a sharp 26.7 per cent during arpil-september to just 59.4 million dollars as against 81 million dollars recorded during the same period last year.